Send in your poems

Please see Laura's comment on the January 25th post...

If you have a favorite poem or one you think Laura would like, send it in...

We'll all snap our fingers as we read and pretend we're beatniks from the '50's.

I think Laura would love it!

:-)

Sayin' a Prayer

Laura continues to lack energy, is still in pain this week and still can't taste the food... Through all the pain, though, she feels lots of love.

Mrs. Cannon came over yesterday with a Frappacino and then she and Laura went for a walk around the block. That required lots of energy to even get out the door. But she did it!

The shawl in the photo is one that Barbara Johnson made for her. As she made it she prayed for Laura...then asked the minister to bless it.

Words don't say how much all of your support and prayers and kind thoughts and deeds mean to her. You all are helping her through this excruciating process.

Thank you!

It's a good friend who will rub your back!

Laura went for chemo on Thurs. and the shot of Nulastin (sp?) on Friday.

Yesterday, she felt really bad. Her bones were aching again. I think she was in bed until around dinner-time.

But! She said Mrs. Cannon came over and rubbed her back and so did Steve. That helped.

Haven't spoken with her today, but received a text that she's "better."

Will update when I know more.

Prayin' that the pain will go away.

Update:
2:30 PST
She forced herself to take a difficult walk around the block. She sounded better today than she did yesterday, but she still doesn't feel good. She's hoping to feel good enough later in the week to go to Atlanta. That's very indefinite, though.

Halfway there!!

Today was the fourth chemo treatment.

Right now, Laura feels very tired, but she doesn’t feel bad. She tells me all she did all day was lie around and get drugs. (Some people might think that’s the life!).

Dr. Jani said everything looked good and there’s still no sign of the tumor. Her INR numbers for the Coumadin were stable and they resumed the research drug today (Avastin). He was concerned about her exercising too much so she’s going to have to cut back. No upper body strength training at all. The doctor is concerned about her going to a gym where lots of germs are lurking, but didn’t actually tell her she couldn’t do the spinning class. He just told her to use discretion about that. Bottom line is: don’t do anything that she could get hurt doing. Hmm. Seems kind of broad, doesn’t it?

She’s a little discouraged about the recommendations about the gym and exercise, but she’s working on a plan to be safe AND to still be able to exercise.

Her skin is still breaking out and now her lips are starting to burn. She believes that she may have read the prescription wrong last time (‘cause she had an easier time of it with the skin problems). This time, she followed the instructions correctly and she’s breaking out again.

Her research nurse, Kathy, was back today and thorough as ever. Laura really appreciates how much time Kathy takes with her.

Tonight, she still has taste buds!!! So, she and Steve are going to eat Mexican for dinner.

Even though there are some things that are frustrating to her, she’s “lucky to have such a wonderful caring family and friends!”

The pictures today are of things she does to keep herself entertained. :-)

Last weekend, Laura & Steve had dinner at Mary & Kermit's house. We all got together with webcams and talked and laughed and enjoyed visiting...

The visit took place after they had all visisted Aunt Alberta. And, while Aunt Alberta is still in the hospital and she has a way to go before she's "doing fine, " she has improved and sounds stronger each time I talk to her. That's an encouragement.

Laura's fourth chemo treatment is tomorrow @ 9:00. She's felt pretty good throughout the 3rd treatment and following. In fact, she's gone to spinning class most days. Those pictures in a later post.

Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers, comments and support. Please continue to remember our cousin, Phyllis, and our Aunt Alberta.

Have a happy week!

Quick update:

• Laura's spirits are pretty good.
• She's continued to workout at the gym everyday, but sometimes feels discouraged that she tires easily and can't do things like vacuum. Who needs to vacuum?!
• Laura described an unpleasant condition of her feet peeling in a serious way and her fingernails appear to be coming out. (I was unaware that she'd lose her fingernails.)
• Our Aunt Alberta (Mama's sister) is in ICU at the hospital. I'm sad 'cause I'm so far away and Laura's sad 'cause she's been told that, because she's undergoing chemo, she can't go in the room to see her. Please say a prayer for Aunt Alberta, her daughter, Olivia & her son-in-law, Tony.

More news as I know it.

**** After I posted the above information, Laura contacted her doctor's office and they checked her white cell counts among other things. They gave her the "go-ahead" to see Aunt Alberta with the provision that she wear a mask.

It's complicated, but she's still winning!

This week has had its share of complications for Laura:

• She hasn't slept well since her last chemo.
• She's lost more weight.
• She still can't taste food.
• Her mouth is bothering her.

In spite of that, there have been some high points:

• Yesterday she went to the Coumadin Clinic and received a good report. (She still has to go check in with them once-a-week, though.)
• Had a good report today from Dr. Jani.
  
• She's been to the YMCA every day this week and one day she completed the whole spinning class.
  
• She and her friend, Mrs. Cannon spent a day together driving around, visiting Mrs. Cannon's sister, looking at camellias, and even went to Happy Hour at Steak 'n' Shake!
• She's going to Atlanta this weekend (Her friend Claire is taking her.) and she's going to see a couple of movies she's wanted to see ("Gran Torino" and "Milk").
  
• Through some of her "television research" she has provided me with valuable information on how I can improve the quality of my health with vitamin D and a "Happy Light." (Not much sun in the Pacific Northwest during the winter -- and REALLY not much lately.) :-)

For those of you who have asked, there is a way to order a "GoFightWin!" shirt. In the upper right-hand corner of this blog (above Laura's picture), there is a link so that you can order the shirts and have them sent directly to you.

Have a happy weekend!

Camelias

These are the winter flowers of south Georgia and today they made me feel good.

Although they aren't in order, here are the ones pictured: Debutant, Drama Girl, Ville De Nantes, Mathotiana Rubra, Coronation, Professor Sergeant, Betty Sheffield Supreme, Flame, Elegans, Guilio Nuccio, R. L. Wheeler, Mrs. D. W. Davis.

Don't you think this would make most anybody feel better?

~Laura

Hats

Margie,
Here are a couple of photos for you...
Hopefully, you can copy and paste them so they'll work for you!
Happy running!

Update

Note: Laura, Emily and Steve are wearing white shirts.

And, in the upper right-hand corner,

Laura is wearing her GFW! shirt and GFW! hat.

Today Laura feels a little "drugged" but she's doing okay. She can taste and eat food but doesn't want much. She's off the Avastin (the experimental drug) until her blood clot goes away. She'll have to be checked every 5 days at the Coumadin clinic until they regulate her intake. More information as she learns it...

White Shirt Day

Today is January 2nd... Mama's birthday.

After Mama died, our whole family decided that on the 2nd of every month we would all wear a white shirt in memory of her. (She loved us all in white shirts.)

Today Harvey, Sarah, Hannah and I put on the best white shirts for the occasion...

Laura received news from the doctor today that he couldn't even FIND the tumor!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That doesn't mean she gets to change any of the plans for her treatment, but it does mean that the treatment is working.

That's the best news of the day!

As I receive more information from her, I'll post it here.

GoFightWin!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Two Pieces out of Three Pieces of Good News...

Laura is currently at the hospital waiting for her chemo treatment to begin.

She received lots of good news today, but right now I'm only going to share two of those with you -- want to save some for later. :-)

I didn't understand this the other day, but she actually had to give herself more than four days worth of shots of the Lovenox -- which helps thin her blood. Today, she received the news that she can stop the shots.

And... after having been on the Coumadin for a little over a week, the doctors said her INR level (which has to do with the thickness of the blood) is where it needs to be. That does not mean she can stop the Coumadin, but her body is behaving like they want it to -- or maybe even better.

Please tune in later today for photos and the last piece of very good news. :-)

Here She Goes Again

Tomorrow is round 3 of chemo...

Please say a prayer that things go well and that the days between chemo treatments are good to her.